The ad shows a series of cartoons documenting the young girl being shot in the head, falling backwards covered in blood and being treated in hospital.

She then bounces of a mattress before receiving an award - in Malala's trademark pink and gold hijab.

Indian bedding company Kurl-On commissioned a series of three poster adverts from the multinational design agency, which was founded by Brit David Ogilvy.

Malala Yousafzai was shot by the Taliban in Pakistan (Photo: PA)

The other two ads in the series show Ghandi leaving his career as a barrister to become a peace activist, and Steve Jobs bouncing back after he was kicked out of Apple.

A representative from Ogilvy, posting on Ads of the World website, wrote: "We do not believe that getting shot in the face was the defining moment in this brave young 14-year-old's life - it was her courage and determination to rise from hopeless circumstances.

The advert for the mattress company featuring images of Malala (Photo: SWNS)

"We believe that her's is a breathtakingly inspiring story and while all of us do not have the raw courage or moral fiber to do what she did, we can try to pay a tribute to her by any means available to us.

"In this case, the means happened to be an advertising campaign. If we were architects, we would erect a monument in her honor."

The sickening advert has been savaged by industry experts, including Canadian ad exec Tom Megginson.

He said: "14-year-olds getting shot in the face by terrorists are appropriate content for mattress ads now?

"I am ashamed to be in the same industry as these ad people."

Malala's representatives deemed the adverts "distasteful" but decided not to comment further.

Pakistani-born Malala was shot in the face on a school bus by an extremist Taliban gunman because she wanted to receive an education, in a horrific crime that shocked the world.

Malala, now 16, was rushed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham where she remarkably recovered from her injuries.